Page 96 of Robb

“Michael is directing the civilians out of the front gate,” Hector was saying. “There’s still a lot of them in here, though.”

Could that be the same Michael that Liam mentioned? wondered Tahnee. It is a pretty common name, though.

“Understood,” Robb said.

“You be careful now, yeah?” Hector said. “I’m not about to miss out on hearing you explaining everything that’s happened over the past few days in excruciating detail.”

“Yeah. We want the goss.” That was Trent.

Robb apparently chose not to dignify that with a response.

“Take care of yourselves,” he said crisply. “Talk to you soon.”

He hung up.

“All good?” he asked.

Tahnee nodded.

“Let’s go.”

They dashed out towards the hedge maze, passing a few stragglers as they went. The maze itself, though, was empty, and lent an oddly muted air to the not-so-distant clash of swords and who knew what else.

The two of them moved swiftly and silently, Robb’s hand resting gently on Tahnee’s back in a way that felt reassuring rather than controlling, and Tahnee devoted a corner of her consciousness to simply glorying in his simple touch.

He seemed to be more or less back to his old self as well, the effects of the wyvern venom now almost entirely gone, and she took a moment to be grateful for that as well. It had been such a constant worry for her that the relief she felt now seemed to have lifted a massive weight from her shoulders.

Of course, the fact that they were still on the run from a crazed wild hog with a revenge fetish was putting a bit of a damper on the whole thing, but if she could just manage to put that out of her mind, it really would be quite a nice day.

“Do you think we’re near the middle of the maze?” she whispered. It was possible that if they were in the middle, they’d be undetectable to shifters from the edge of the maze.

Robb nodded.

Tahnee flopped down to the ground – ostensibly to make herself less visible from the air in case Hargreaves sent some airborne shifters to do some recon, but also just because she was suddenly absolutely exhausted.

I just need to rest for a few minutes, she thought. Just five minutes, then I can take on the world.

Robb seemed to read her mind, because he sat down next to her – albeit more sedately – and put his arm around her, pulling her in close so that she could lean on his shoulder.

She closed her eyes for a minute, secure in the knowledge that Robb would keep her safe, and just let herself listen to the distant battle.

It was hard, keeping herself out of it, but part of her just needed this time with Robb, and she was extremely grateful for it.

She zoned out a little, and it was with a horrible sense of here we go again that a slight rustling of leaves brought her back to full alertness.

She exchanged a glance with Robb, whose expression indicated that he’d heard it too.

He’s here.

Pulling herself silently to her feet, Robb by her side, Tahnee prepared to either fight or flee.

The rustling had only been for a moment, but Tahnee knew that whoever had made the sound was still there.

And – there.

The briefest flash of a shifter’s presence at the periphery of her perception.

It lingered for a moment, before it was gone again.